In the Cumberland County Schools district (CCS), students are assigned to schools based on their residence, but they can participate in the "governed choice" program and attend schools that offer specialized curriculum in such areas as the arts, math, science and technology. The deadline for the choice application is in mid-February. High schoolers may attend academies that will prepare them for careers in such fields as public safety, engineering and health sciences.
Under the federal No Child Left Behind law, students attending a Title I school designated as "in need of improvement" have the right to attend a higher-performing school in the district.